Locking post construction



Aug. 24, 1943.

J. C. DAWSON LocK ING PosT CONSTRUCTION` rFiled Aug. s, 1542 /A/n/f/Vro E: JH M55 C. DA w50/v, da,

W. M w n Patented Aug. 24, 1943 UNITEDv STATES PATENT. (IF'FICE n. Yasz'zssla 1 1 j I I LocKING Postr coNsfr-Roofrxon i dllamesl. lawsvonQJnyKii-kwood, Mo. e e ima-serial No. 453,314` l 401mm. (o1. 12e- 13) Application August E3,

The present invention relates generally to loose-leaf binder constructions,` and morel particularly appertains to a locking-post Aconstruction for maintaining separablebinder elements in operative relation and for releasing thejsaine.

An object of the present invention isto provide a novel compact post locking mechanism'for loose-leaf binders. Y

inside of the, plate I3, thence l around the flange thereof, `andii-ponthe inner -side of the board It; forminga second hingeportion 2`I. This 'cover material may beinonepieceif desired. A

Another object is to provide a"l novel Vsel-f-lockl ing post construction for loose-leaf binders lof the ring-release type, which positively maintains the removable -cover in operative relationship with the base, yetwhich readily releases topermit the removablercoverto be displaced Another object isto provide a novel'locking post constructionl for looseleaf binders of positive operation of an -over-allsize to receive one of the perforations of sheets adapted to be contained by the binder. i

Another object is to provi'de-anovel post locking mechanism for loose-leaf binders of the dog type in which the' biting characteristic of former constructions is eliminated. J

Other objects are to provide a novel post vbinder locking mechanism i. for loose-leaf binders which is simple in construction, which irreali--l over diameter is small enough to receive-a punched hole of sheets adaptedfto be contained 'notch 22 is-cut intothe board IIB from the back edge'thereO'. `-lt is surniounted by a plate 23, of jmetal or -the'like, beneath the cover I'I'; and thef'cover 2%3 is forced into the notch to `line the same. y j

The base 'construction' I2 includes a board rnember 25 covered by -suitablematerial 26. A lowerangle member 2I\"isfcovered bythe material f26'in a manner to form the hinge 28. The relationship of theylower anglemember `21 and the upper ang-le member 22, when inoperative relation, is asshown in FigQS'. Thel locking post "I4 is "preferably the centrally` disposed sheet `receiving postof the Vbinder I0. An outer cylindrical lor tubular member 3I is `securedat its lower end` by-a crimping process in an aperture 32V in the lower angle member21.

by the'binderin afpreferred' embodiment, andi which is adapted to `iulilll all ofthe objects and advantages sought. l Y Other objects andadvantages will bev-apparent from the following'description taken in'conjunction with the accompanying drawing .in which: Fig.` 1 ,is a plan view of a loose-leaf binder-,inf-A eorporating the presentinvention; VVi

Fig. 2 is a bottom edge view Vof the binder showninligl; 1 `1 Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 43,--4--3 ofFig. 1; y l

Fig.4 -is a section `on the-line 4-r-4of Fig.` 3; FigQ is a. planview ofthe locking dog; and Fig. 6 is an edge View of the said locking dog. Referring more particularly `to the drawing, IU indicates generally a loose-leaf binder which includes an upper cover. construction II, a `base construction I2, outer binder posts I3, and a cen`V `tral locking postconstructionI generally designated I4 incorporating the concepts of thepresent invention. V

'Ihe cover construction II .includes aboard member IE covered withsuitable outer flexible material I'I; Vthat extends overthe back plate I8, forming Aa rsthinge at I9; `There isalso an inner flexible cover 20', extending around 'the Aninner cylindrical or tubularmember 33, somewhat smaller than the outerone, is secured in the same manner at its upper -end 4to the upper angle member I3 and 'is `telescopically received bythe cylindrical member `3I. A shoulder member 35is secured in .and to the cylindrical member 33near the upper end and receives, through a smallaperture 36,` atcotterpin'l having an eye 38 to fwhichis.v connectedia split ring 39. r A dog 4I (Figs. 3, 5,` 6) "of a 'configuration to include a rearwardly extending tongue 42, :and a scalloped front portion 43 havinga `rounded up-` per edge, is mountedsin:thefcylindrical member 33 `near the lower end thereof with' the tongue 42 disposed in a slotlliin the cylindrical member 3 3'. Thescallopedjportion43` is received in an enlarged cut-awayportion 4l of the cylindrical member 33. The dog 4I preferably is bevelled at 49 along the rear ledgelofthe tongue 42, and along portions of the perimeterl around frornthe tongue 42. It is undercut along the scalloped front portion 43. The dog 4I receives the lower end of the Cotter pin 31 through an aperture 50 and abuts against a collar 5I disposed about the lower end of the cotter pin 3'I,` the` collar 5I being maintained in position1 by a spread extreme end 52 ofthe cotter pin 31).? A compression spring f 54 is disposed, aboutthe cotter pin 31 and has the upper end'abutting' the shoulder member35 and the. lower end abutting the dog 4|. The aperture `50`is toward the rightinFigB, so that'the collar'jBI may engage the inner surface of the cylinder: 33,' thereby preventing Vthe tongue 42 from slipping out of its slot 4t.` The dog 4I is Operation After the hinge portion of the cover construction is raised from the position shown in Fig.

CII

2, the split ring 39 may be grasped to release the 9 lock post construction I4. In Fig. 3, the dog ,4|

is in locking engagement with the outer cylindrical member 3|,l the edge of the tongue 42 and* the scalloped front 43 beingforced into engagement therewith through the action of the spring 54. This spring forces the tongue 42 down' against the bottom of the slot 46, and thenurges the dog toward a horizontal position. in which the scalloped portion 43 and the tongue` 42'engage with theinner,v walls of the cylindenl. A fortuitous opening force .tending to part the two vcylinders 3|.and 33, results in the'inner'cylindersV forcing the tongue' 42 upwardly; ,but this merely causes the front edgeof; the dog to bind more tightly with the outer cylinder. Hence no appreciable separating movement `can occur, as the binding is already initiated by `the spring. If lthe Ytongue 42 kbe made slightly deeperfthan the distance Vfromthe4 inner to outer walls lof the cylinder, an additional bindingmay occur between the tongue and the cylinder 3|.

To release the lock post mechanism` |34', the split ring 39 isdrawn upwardlyagainst `the action of lthespring 54. Sincethe collar 5| is contiguous to the lower surface of thegdog 4|,- up,-v vvard movement of they cotter pin` 3| effects a pivotalaction of the-dog 4| about the eliggmentv ofthe tongue 42 and the edge of the Aslot 45, to release the-scalloped front 43 of ther dog 4| from engagement with the interior surface of theA outer cylindricalmember 3|.- The release Aof the dog 4 may vbe ,effected without undue; .effort inasmuchlasthe scalloped front 43. is rounded at its'upper edge which `is-they line of engagement. No bitinginto 'the` interior of the outer cylindrical member 3| occurs due to said rounded upper edge. The coverconstruction ,I `may be readily removed`- as soonas the foregoinglaction has been accomplished., -.The ring 39 may be released immediatelyI after the upper cover 'construction llhas been separated from` the base construction |2, and itis unneccessary to draw the Cotter pin 3'l'upward1y again until another releasing action is required since the inner cylindrical member 33 maybe telescopically reengaged with the outer cylindrical member 3| readily,for the angular disposition of the dog V4|l permits free' downward sliding movement. Y 4 It is apparent'from the foregoing, that the= post locking construction |`4' is positive in its action, yet no biting of the dog 4| results, and, further, that kthe simplicityfthereof permits usey in a lock post' construction yof the standardpost size, such as 1% or 5/161, as'well as llarger sizes.A 4'Not only does'this construction involve' a minimum of parts for. the locking'mechanism,`but the parts are of small si'z'e, and the construction' enables a reduction in size of the rear partslof thebinders. .The only.extensionnecessaryi of the posts, is an amount suicient to receive the edge of the sheets.

It is manifest that there has been achieved va locking post construction which fullls all of the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing are given by way of illustration and example and not for purposes of limitation, the invention being limited konlyby the claims which follow.

What is claimed ist 1. In a device of the kind described, a station- .ary tubular member, a movable tubular member 'telescopicallly engaging said rst member, a locking' member mounted in said second tubular member and engaging said rst tubular member,

when said tubular members are telescopicallyA engaged -to/"restrict telescopic movement in one direction, said locking member including a tongue extending through said second tubular member member and .engaging said. @ISU llnibfr.1r` along vthe Scallops saidalloped :Dbrtimincluding ,a

` member, Secured .to and in` Said; second. tubular membelfdjamt Ph@ uppel .end-the1e0 @n 81011- ygatedmenfiber extending through an aperture in said-shoulder member and Y through an aperture in V said locking member, said elongated member including an eye preventing passage, ofV Vsaid elongated l member downwardly Y throughr said Shoulder member@-rizieccuredtgsaid eye. a collarl secured to said.;e1 ongated member ,adjacent to and vabutting the underside of saidv locking member, a spring disposedaboutj said, elongated member having one .end abutting thegun-Y dersidev of said-shoulder member and theotlier en d abutting the upper-sidegfsaid locking member, whereby movement? .0ffsai'd .elongated member upwardlyreleases said ,locking member from engagement fwithfsaid rstitubular member to permit the `aforesaid restricted telescopic movement;` :y

'2."In a mechanisnrofthefkinddescribed, .a rst tubular member,I `asecond tubular member adapted to be telescopedintothejrst, a notch in the inner member having an' :upper edgeextending .a substantial. 4angular Ydistance 'around thefmember, an openingf-in'lthe-1nner member opposite' the notch, aadog. :havingla'A rstv-projection engaging in the openingv and-formmg,vvith the opening, al pivot forthe. dog, the dog having an opposite portior'i inI the notch,said dog -being of a size to extend through pivot a greater distancev than 'that from the pivot tor the inner wall l whereby said opposite1 portion of the `dog may pivotfawayV from "thelfopen fend lof the -outer member Vinto, engagement with? said inner 4wall, saidyopposite rvportion ,having angular; dimension vto engagev 'they-'said 4v.inner- Wall'j for a substantial angular distance Vto avoidI 'marringv of said inner' wall, through the `inner member andY engageable with the dog todr'awthe'same about its pivot toward the open end of the outer memberfto" remove itrs'projecting portion fromjenga'geinent with, the inner wall of' theouter.fmemberfandv meansV res'ilently.

opposition,to"there1easing'-1meansgj the notch from the of the outer me'mber',A

releasing' means extending 3. In a mechanism of the kind described, a rst tubular member, a second tubular member adapted to be telescoped into the rst, a notch in the inner member having an upper edge extending a substantial angular distance around the member, an opening in the inner member opposite the notch, a dog having a rst projection engaging in the opening and forming, with the opening, a pivot for the dog, said notch having an angular extent to permit insertion of the dog therethrough into the inner member, the dog having an opposite portion in the notch, said dog being of a size to extend through the notch from the pivot a greater distance than that from the pivot to the inner Wall of the outer member, whereby said opposite portion of the dog may pivot away from the open end of the outer member into engagement with said inner wall, said opposite portion having an angular dimension to engage the said inner wall for a substantial angular distance to avoid marring of said inner wall, releasing means extending through the inner member and engageable with the dog `to draw the same about its pivot toward the open end of the outer member to remove its projecting portion from engagement with the inner wall of the outer member, said releasing means having an element engageable with the inner wall of the inner member opposite the pivot, to prevent withdrawal of the dog from the notch,

and means resiliently urging the dog into said engagement in opposition to the releasing means.

4. In a mechanism of the kind described, a first tubular member, a second tubular member adapted to be telescoped into the irst, a notch in the inner member having an upper edge extending a substantial angular distance around the member, a dog, said dog having a portion in said notch, interengaging means between said inner member and said dog opposite said notch, whereby said dog may pivot with reference to said innermember, said dog being of a size to extend through the notch from the pivot a greater distance than that from the pivot to the inner wall of the outer member, whereby said portion of the dog may pivot away from the open end of the outer member into engagement with said inner wall, said portion having an angular dimension to engage the said inner Wall for a substantial angular distance to avoid marring of said inner wall, releasing means extending through the inner member and engageable with the dog to draw the same about its pivot toward the open end of the outer member to remove its projecting portion from engagement With the inner wall of the outer member, and means resiliently urging the dog into said engagement in opposition to the releasing means.

JAMES c.V DAWSON, JR. 

